Littler’s Thrilling Performance
Luke Littler, the world number one, secured his place in the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay with an 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall. The match, held at Winter Gardens in Blackpool, featured a thrilling nine-darter from Littler, marking a significant moment in the tournament.
Littler commenced the contest with a perfect leg, culminating in a finish on double 15. The Warrington teenager acknowledged the crowd’s adulation, while Aspinall reacted with disbelief before offering a high five. The excitement intensified in the fourth leg when Littler nearly achieved a second nine-darter, with his arrow narrowly missing the target on double 15.
Aspinall, in a light-hearted moment, turned to the crowd and humorously offered his darts, seemingly questioning if anyone else wished to challenge the 19-year-old. Despite this, Aspinall demonstrated resilience, preventing Littler from establishing a significant lead and managing to draw level at 7-7. However, the defending champion then secured the subsequent three legs.
Aspinall briefly mounted another comeback, but a missed opportunity on tops in the 19th leg allowed Littler to check out 52, sealing his victory. Littler’s performance included an average of 113.68, which stands as the second-highest in the tournament’s history, alongside a total of 14 180s.
Post-Match Reactions and Tournament Progress
Reflecting on his achievement, Littler told Sky Sports, “The nine-darter just happened. These guys [the crowd] were booing me at the beginning and then they started cheering me on!” He described the experience as “amazing” and considered it one of the best games he and Aspinall have played against each other, noting Aspinall’s persistent effort. Littler also expressed satisfaction with his two performances in the tournament and his hope to secure the title again, emphasising his focus on the next opponent.
Aspinall’s fighting spirit was evident throughout the match. He managed a 170 checkout at one point, even as Littler ultimately proved too strong. Littler acknowledged Aspinall’s strong play, stating, “His 170 was the best ever hit against me, fair play to Nathan Aspinall. I’m glad to take part in such an amazing game.”
Littler is now set to face Josh Rock in the quarter-finals. Rock advanced after an 11-6 win over Stephen Bunting. These two players previously met in last year’s Matchplay semi-final.
Other Match Results
In other matches, Michael van Gerwen‘s campaign in the tournament concluded following a 14-12 defeat to his fellow Dutchman, Dirk van Duijvenbode. Van Gerwen had initially fallen behind, trailing 8-4, but managed to recover and level the score at 10-all before Van Duijvenbode ultimately closed out the contest.
Scotland’s Gary Anderson also progressed to the last eight. He secured an 11-7 victory against Welshman Jonny Clayton. The results from Tuesday’s matches include:
- (5) Jonny Clayton 7-11 Gary Anderson (12)
- (4) Michael van Gerwen 12-14 Dirk van Duijvenbode
- (1) Luke Littler 11-8 Nathan Aspinall (16)
- (8) Josh Rock 11-6 Stephen Bunting (9)
The upcoming schedule for Wednesday’s Matchplay, with action commencing from 19:15 BST, includes several second-round matches.
- Cameron Menzies v Ross Smith (15)
- (7) Gerwyn Price v Rob Cross
- (3) Gian van Veen v Wessel Nijman (14)
- (6) James Wade v Ryan Searle (11)
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Niamh Pendlebury is the Sports Reporter at NewsGB.org, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB and the county circuit. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Preston, she plays club tennis and follows road running. “The best interviews come from patience, not pressure.”